Non-invasive cosmetic procedures

A little lift doesn't require going under the knife anymore.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all…fairytale musings aside, they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what if that beholder is you and all you see as you gaze into that magical mirror are signs of aging?

Fine lines and small wrinkles that never used to be there a few years ago, sagging and drooping in place of those plump youthful cheeks and slight bulging in areas you would rather have flat and trim.

Kinda makes you wish you had a beauty time machine–every time you start to look a bit haggard and tired, all you have to do is jump in and dial it back a few years to when gravity and elasticity were on your side.

But alas, that beauty time machine has yet to be invented. Sure there is always the nip and tuck option, but many women today are cautious about going under the knife, not to mention wary of the bruising, pain and weeks of recovery.

Fortunately, there are other alternatives out there–options that won’t break the bank or leave you lying in the recovery bed for weeks on end…non-invasive cosmetic procedures.

“It’s a great alternative for people who don’t want to go under the knife,” says Dr. Earl Minuk, owner Dr. Earl Minuk’s Laser, Skin and Hair Centre.

Non-invasive cosmetic procedures improve the look of ones face and body without having to undergo surgery and often involve the use of fillers, injectors, lasers, solutions or other nonsurgical treatments.

As little as two decades ago, procedures like this were done in cloak and dagger secrecy, but that’s simply not the case anymore.

“Cosmetic procedures are not as taboo as they used to be,” says Dr. Gul Balbir Singh, Plastic Surgery Associates of Winnipeg “People are really open to it, they actually enjoy saying they have had something done.”

Today, more and more women are turning to non-invasive procedures to regain their youthful look and the most popular procedure–injections and fillers.

“People are walking in and saying I look tired all the time or I look angry all the time because of the age lines. One way we address that is with a Soft Lift,” says LPN Coralee Souka, injection nurse at Skin Deep Aesthetics.

A Soft Lift is a combination of Botox and Juvederm injections and can be done in a single session. The Botox relaxes the dynamic expression muscles–those in and around the furrow of your brow and eyes–and the Juvederm is used as a filler to “lift up” areas of the face that are sagging or drooping.

At Dr. Minuk’s clinic, growth in the injection market has increased by 100 per cent this year in the first quarter alone, and it’s not just for those looking to regain their former looks.

“There are a lot of younger women coming in for lip enhancers and Botox” says Dr. Minuk. “They aren’t looking to refill, but they are going for that magazine glamourous look.”

Injection fillers such as Botox are also being used to combat excessive sweating. According to Dr. Manfred Ziesmann of the Ziesmann Cosmetic Centre, Botox injections in the armpit, palms of the hands and soles of the feet can reduce sweat.

“In the past the only alternative was surgery to cut the sweat glands out,” says Dr. Ziesmann, adding that the Botox treatment works almost immediately and can last up to seven months. “The sweat gland is controlled by nerve impulses and by injecting Botox it blocks the connection.”

Another popular trend right now–Cool Sculpting.

Cool Sculpting is a non-invasive process that targets and eliminates fat cells in specific areas of the body.

“We have an applicator that goes on the skin and its temperature is gradually cooled, as it cools it kills the fat cells in the body through a natural process,” says Dr. Minuk, adding that the process works on a scientific principle is called Cryolipolysis, which was discovered by a world-renowned Dermatologist.

Studies have shown a 22 per cent reduction in fat in areas treated using the Cool Sculpting method–a great way to get that beach body bikini look without hours at the gym, months of dieting or Liposuction.

“There are no incisions, very little pain and for someone who has a small area of fat it works very well,” says Dr. Singh.

Alternatively, women looking to get rid of stubborn bulges can opt for Ultra Shaping. Similar to Cool Sculpting, Ultra Shaping eliminates fat cells by using ultra sound technology.

“It involves focused ultra sound which makes the fat cells break down and the body then excretes them through the liver,” says Ziesmann, adding that the treatment has shown a as much as a nine centimetre reduction in the waist area.

In addition to fillers, injections and body shaping procedures–laser skin treatments are also in demand, particularly when it comes to tattoo removal.

The demand for tattoo removal is increasing exponentially and the only place to have them laser removed is at Dr. Minuk’s clinic. With two tattoo removal lasers onsite, Minuk can remove virtually all of the decorative tattoo colours. The process is time consuming and requires multiple sessions–but the rewards for some are immeasurable.

One of the main benefits of non-invasive procedures is turnaround time. Unlike surgery the time spent recovering from injections, fillers, body treatments or laser therapies is minimal lasting anywhere from a few hours (for filler injections) or a couple of days (for Cool Sculpting or Ultra Shaping).

Another benefit is the time it takes to book and get the procedure done. Non-invasive procedures office procedures and can be done in as little as a half an hour or few hours for some of the more complex treatments.

“People can come down at lunch and get a Silk Peel or a Botox touch-up and go back to work and it doesn’t interfere with their routine,” says Souka.

Non-invasive procedures are also more cost effective than opting for plastic surgery which can cost almost double–especially when it comes to a procedure like Liposuction.

Still, like any medical procedure, non-invasive cosmetic treatments do have risks associated with them however, according to the doctors and nurses interviewed for this article those risks are minimal and can include redness or slight bruising.

Doctors also caution patients to thoroughly research the procedures and facilities offering non-invasive treatments, and to consult your doctor as to whether or not non-invasive procedures may be the best option for them.

“You have to talk to the patient and determine what is best for them,” says Dr. Singh. “There are lots of benefits, you don’t require anaesthesia and the recovery time is faster, but if you don’t get the results you are looking for, then what is the point in getting it done in the first place.”

But for those looking to shed those dull winter skin cells from your face, smooth out the fine lines around your mouth or furrow of the brow or melt away the little fat pockets in the back bra area or tummy–non-invasive procedures offer a quick and cost effective way to enhance your looks.